President Carter focuses on affordability, AI research, expanding career opportunities in State of the University address

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President Carter focuses on affordability, AI research, expanding career opportunities in State of the University address

Ohio State Founders Day speech outlines bold vision for the next decade

President Walter "Ted" Carter Jr. celebrated the founding of The Ohio State University by charting a new path for the next decade. Delivering his second State of the University address on Wednesday, Carter announced details of his Education for Citizenship 2035 strategic plan.

On Founders Day, 152 years after students first attended class on campus, Carter presented a bold vision for the university. New initiatives at the heart of the strategic plan include three new scholarship programs to expand access and opportunity, new resources to grow faculty positions and create an artificial intelligence research hub, and a renewed focus on expanding career preparation through internships and workforce development.

"I want to start off by telling you that the state of our university is strong," he said. "Our academic programs are premier. ... We have some of the best scholars in the world right here. But we can still do better, and we can commit to that next level."

Carter called for an investment in academic excellence that includes a $100 million campaign to attract and retain the world's most eminent faculty to Ohio State. He said the investment in talent and culture will help grow the university's research enterprise to $2 billion.

The commitment to faculty will also support the university's comprehensive embrace of artificial intelligence in research and teaching and learning. Ohio State's AI Fluency initiative is already underway with a goal to ensure that every Ohio State graduate is AI fluent, beginning with the current first-year class.

"This is an approach that is so comprehensive, nobody else in the country is even attempting it," he said. "On top of that, we will hire 100 additional AI experts that will complement the 300 that we already have here working on artificial intelligence. … We are making more and more achievements in this field."

Carter announced three new scholarship programs to expand access and opportunity for more Ohio students. The President's Scholars Program will provide full cost of attendance scholarships and academic support to Ohio students who score a perfect 36 on the ACT or a perfect 1600 on the SAT.

Earlier this week, he joined Columbus State Community College President David Harrison to announce Buckeye Bridge, a partnership that will cover tuition and fees for qualifying Ohio residents transferring to Ohio State from Columbus State.

Finally, Carter said the university's Regional Campus Commitment program will cover tuition and fees for students from families with an adjusted gross income of $100,000 or lower who start at one of Ohio State's regional campuses before transferring to the Columbus campus.

Education for Citizenship 2035 also focuses resources on preparing students for the careers of the future.

Carter set a goal of doubling undergraduate enrollment in the College of Nursing to meet an urgent workforce need in the state, particularly in rural areas. He said the university will offer designated rotation slots, early job offers and job guarantees at the Wexner Medical Center for the nursing graduates who want to build their careers at Ohio State.

He also announced a goal to expand enrollment in the College of Veterinary Medicine to 200 students.

With an emphasis on attracting top talent, Ohio State will work to ensure excellent outcomes, Carter said. Ohio State will launch a Career Services Center of Excellence with a goal of strengthening connections to local and national companies and expanding opportunities for internships and experiential learning, so students are better prepared for the workforce.

Carter, a 38-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, also set a goal for Ohio State to become the top university in the nation for veterans. He said Ohio State should be the first choice and gold standard for every veteran in America seeking postsecondary education, career transition and lifelong well-being.

While he announced several transformative investments and goals, Carter said the university's strategic plan is really about getting back to the basics: reimagining the work of the university to continue to make life better for the people of Ohio well into the future.

"I'm very excited about our future. I'm excited that we have the opportunity to not only be the future of higher education, that we can change the trajectory for what higher education is in this country," he said. "As I think about all the traditions that we have here in Ohio State, the greatest one is still Carmen, Ohio -our song that is 122 years old now. 'Time and change will surely show, how firm thy friendship, Ohio.'"

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